Location: Methods and Application of Food Composition Laboratory
Project Number: 8040-52000-068-050-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Jun 2, 2020
End Date: Sep 24, 2021
Objective:
The USDA FoodData Central Foundation Foods) is the authoritative, nationally and internationally recognized high-quality food composition database that provides the foundation for most food composition databases used in food policy, research, dietary practice, and nutrition monitoring world-wide. This analytical work will address the growing importance for more analytical information on variability in foods considered the building blocks of a diverse and fast-changing food environment, specifically commodity and commodity-derived (minimally processed) foods contributing to health and prevention of chronic diseases related to diet.
Approach:
FDC contains data for thousands of foods and 150+ nutrients and food components. The food composition data are derived from USDA-contracted analyses at this time. These data are used to improve the quality and quantity of analytical data in the USDA food composition databases since 1997. USDA analytical oversight and a comprehensive, multi-step quality control program are important features of this process; specific aims are: a) Identify and prioritize foods and nutrients for analysis; b) Devise and implement food-appropriate sampling plans; c) Acquire and analyze food samples; and d) Review, compile, and disseminate values and nutrient-specific variability data
